Dell Laptop-Can't access BIOS

Searched for this, but never saw a complete answer. Here is the situation:

Have a Dell Laptop, not sure the model but almost positive it's Inspiron. Trying to reload Windows XP but the computer won't let me in the BIOS so that I can get it to boot from the disk. I have tried every single key stroke combo that I can find on the internet as soon as I power up the laptop (F1, F2, Del, FN+F1) and it just goes straight to Windows XP loading.

Is there any other way to access the BIOS settings or get them to appear so that I can see what is going on?

 

Dell's are usually F2 to enter BIOS during the Dell screen. They also have F12 for a one time boot menu where you could select CDROM.

If neither works perhaps a USB keyboard might give you another chance if you happen to have one around.

 

No luck with either F12 or a usb keyboard. Any other ideas?

 

Holding a key down while the computer boots might force the BIOS to appear as it might detect a keyboard problem. If that does not work, try removing the hard drive and then boot.

Your trying to change the boot order, correct?

Edit:You might want to try these combinations I found.

Ctrl+Alt+Enter
Fn+Esc

If none of these work, then when the computer boots, keep tapping the F2 button continuously.

 

What is the exact model of the Dell laptop?
Turn the laptop over. Aside from the serial number from MS for the Windows install, there is another sticker that gives the model, Serial number for the hardware and a specific serial number for your laptop. Usually the model and and sometimes the submodel will be printed above the function keys on the keyboard. I have a sticker too on my Aspire One that gives the exact model of Aspire One and other facts about the hardware inside.

 

So since I couldn't get into the BIOS, I just decided to clean up the hard drive as much as possible. Ran CCleaner and Malwarebytes and lo an behold, the computer actually gave me the option to reboot from the CD on restart. So apparently it had some malware that was disabling the BIOS access keys. Who knew? :major